Researchers at the University of Cambridge have devised a way to ‘unprint’ laser printed pages, so that the paper can be reused.
Use a laser, save a tree – via University of Cambridge
Dr Julian Allwood, Leader of the Low Carbon Materials Processing Group at the University of Cambridge, and David Leal-Ayala, PhD student at this group, tested toner-print removal from paper by employing a variety of lasers.
The results showed that toner-print can be removed effectively without causing significant paper damage, allowing the paper to be reused, without being discarded, shredded or sent to a recycling plant.
Coupled with advances in low-energy laser scanning technology, copiers and printers, the research means that toner-removing devices may be a common sight in offices around the country in the future.
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The study predicts that the emissions produced by the pulp and paper recycling industry could be at least halved as a result of paper reuse. “This could represent a significant contribution towards the cause of reducing climate change emissions from paper manufacturing” Allwood said.
The smartest thing would be to build a single device that both prints and unprints. You’d load in either new blank or old printed paper, and out would come newly printed output.
As Nicholas Negroponte foretold.